The AARC is embarking on a new legislative initiative for 2013. The legislation would amend Medicare Part B to add coverage of pulmonary self-management education and training services when furnished by qualified respiratory therapists in the physician practice setting to Medicare patients who have been diagnosed with COPD, asthma, pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary fibrosis and cystic fibrosis. If enacted, this new benefit will not only enhance patient access to respiratory therapists, it will also provide Medicare pulmonary patients with the tools they need to lead healthier lives through self-management of their disease.

We’ve put together two documents that help explain the Medicare Respiratory Therapist Access Act. The first is a one page background paper that briefly describes the the legislation. We have also put together a set of frequently asked questions for AARC members to explain in much more detail the intent of he bill and how it has changed from the previous legislation we worked on. View the FAQs. For further information, please visit the AARC Advocacy Website at http://www.aarc.org/advocacy/